'It disrespects everybody': Why union Nevada veterans are filming ads opposing Flippo

On a clear, warm fall afternoon, four veterans made their way to the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza bordering the Sparks Marina. 

Each took time to look at the names on the memorial wall that runs through the plaza and dominates the view. One searched for the name of James Cathey, a connection of his who he'd heard was on the wall, but didn't find it right away.

Then, one by one, they attached microphones to their lapels, looked into a camera and shared their frustrations with 2nd Congressional District candidate David Flippo's (R) exaggerated claim that he earned a Bronze Star with valor, when in reality it was a Bronze Star. 

The recordings, made Wednesday, will be used in a six-figure digital ad blitz in the coming weeks from the national AFL-CIO — likely the first time the union will run ads targeted at the deeply red seat.

"He's betraying the military, the rank and ribbon system, and so what else is he willing to betray?" Mickey Grizzle, a 74-year-old retired union letter carrier and Marine veteran, told The Nevada Independent. "In other words, if that's not important to see to it that's correct, what else would he betray?"

Flippo himself apologized last week and blamed campaign video editors and copywriters after The Washington Post reported on his overstated credentials — Flippo was awarded a standard Bronze Star in 2004 (usually awarded for meritorious service or achievement in a combat zone without direct personal exposure to combat risks), whereas a Bronze Star with valor is awarded for heroism under enemy fire. 

The distinction may seem relatively innocuous to those not connected to the military. Veterans say it's anything but. 

In 1996, when an investigation indicated that Adm. Jeremy "Mike" Boorda, then chief of naval operations, had improperly worn two bronze pins denoting valor in combat, Boorda shot himself and left behind suicide notes expressing concern that the investigation would tarnish the Navy's reputation. 

Bill Conrad, chairman of Combat Vets for Congress, has defended Flippo, and called the The Washington Post's story a "hit piece" that "slandered a decorated military veteran whose staff mistook which of his medals had a valor device."

"It really upsets me that anyone would say that a veteran, any veteran, only does it for himself," he said at the presser. "It's not for himself. It's for duty and country."

Still, it's drawn immense attention — Flippo drew the most search interest he's had all year, and a separate group of Northern Nevada veterans similarly decried what they called stolen valor in a Friday press release.

AFL-CIO spokesman Steve Smith said following the news, union veterans reached out expressing anger, leading to the campaign ad. The goal, he said, is to reach members and their families who are get-out-the-vote targets at least 20 times in the next four weeks — another sign of Democratic bullishness in flipping the Northern Nevada congressional district that has only ever been held by Republicans. 

"We're hearing from union veterans in the district that they were really upset about this, and we thought that this was an issue that I think everybody really should know about, and they shouldn't be just hearing this in a political ad from a campaign," Smith said. "They should be hearing from actual veterans: how they feel about this, and so that was, again, the impetus for what we're doing."

Understanding the claims

Flippo repeated the incorrect credentials in the form of a congressional announcement video in 2023, when he ran for Congress in Nevada's 4th Congressional District, two fundraising solicitations in 2026 and in at least 12 press releases over the course of four months.

One of those releases included Bill Parks, chair of the Washoe GOP, who was also at the presser where he publicly defended Flippo. Parks had been quoted in an endorsement announcement touting Flippo as "a proven conservative fighter who earned the Bronze Star with valor in Iraq."

A conservative commentator who has spoken out against Flippo pointed out on social media that the candidate was seen wearing an unadorned green veterans hat instead of one he has more often sported that featured a Bronze Star and two "V"-shaped symbols on the side, which she described as "V devices."

Flippo wore the unadorned green hat at the press conference where he apologized.

A Flippo campaign spokesperson did not respond to questions about the significance of the two mini "V"-shaped symbols seen on the side of Flippo's veteran hat.

Although the Bronze Star with valor usually features a V device on the star itself, Flippo has not been seen wearing his Bronze Star with a V device.

The campaign spokesperson shared a screenshot of Flippo's military discharge papers and Bronze Star Citation. The discharge papers, which The Indy was allowed to share in part without identifying details, indicated that Flippo received an "Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with 3 oak leaf clusters." The spokesperson pointed to that as the source of confusion.

Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), who endorsed Flippo, did not respond to a question directed through his campaign about whether he was standing by his endorsement given the recent reporting.

Flippo's campaign website still lists his endorsement by President Donald Trump and Lombardo.

Laws and politics

Greg Brower, a Republican former lawmaker, U.S. attorney for Nevada and a U.S. Navy veteran, introduced a bill in 2013 that the Legislature passed, making it a crime to knowingly and falsely claim to have received certain military decorations to obtain money, property or other tangible benefits. 

The law aligns with a federal stolen valor law passed around the same time and specifically addresses recipients of medals such as the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross and Silver Star. It does not mention a Bronze Star or valor distinctions.

Brower told The Nevada Independent he introduced the legislation because it is "beyond offensive" to anyone who has served to make false claims about certain awards, and he believed a law was needed to address it. 

He said he is unaware of a case in which someone was prosecuted under the law for lying about his or her record as part of a political campaign. Legally, there might be an argument that winning a primary or general election and being seated as an elected official is a tangible benefit, he said, but he didn't know if it has been tested.

Brower said it would concern him if anybody, especially a candidate for political office, misrepresented his or her military record in any way.

"To the extent that is what happened here, I think that should concern Nevada voters," Brower said. "It's obviously ultimately up to them to decide how concerned to be about something like that, given the facts."

As for that open political question, the veterans who showed up on Wednesday were crystal clear.

Grizzle, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969-1973 and then spent 37 years at the U.S. Post Office before retiring in 2012, said he wears a hat that clearly shows he was an era veteran, but not a combat one. He said it's vital to accurately portray your record.

Another Marine Corps veteran featured in the campaign ad, Marc Ellis, said he's been the legislative and political chair for Communications Workers of America Union in Nevada since 2015. He said that he is used to advocating behind the scenes and wouldn't have put himself in front of a camera, but this time, he had to speak out.

"This is a big deal," Ellis said. "Getting a Bronze Star means you are just so much above and beyond that you are the elite amongst the elite. But then to lie and say it was with valor … it disrespects everybody that actually did put their life on the line."